Did
you know....
1. The word Giraffe, comes from the Arabic word - zerafa, which
means charming or lovely one. Giraffes
can be found in southern, central and eastern Africa. As of now, their
population is in good standing.
2. Giraffes graze in the savannas in Africa, eating leaves
from the trees, mostly acacia trees. They can go several days with
no water, and stay hydrated by the water of the leaves.
3.
The Reticulated Giraffe has the most distinctive pattern of dark patches
separated by thin lines. The most irregular pattern belongs to the
Masai Giraffe of East Africa.
4.
The neck of a Giraffe can be as long as 8 feet! Their tongue is a
foot long. Both man and giraffes have the same amount of neck bones
- 7. The heart of a Giraffe is very large in order to pump blood all
the way up to it's head.
5. The Giraffe is the tallest animal of all. Male giraffes
normally weigh between 2,400 and 3,000 pounds and can stand up to
19 feet tall. Female giraffes can be up to 16 feet tall and weigh
between 1,600 and 2, 600 pounds.
6. Giraffes have knobs or horns on the top of their heads that
are used to protect the head in fights. These grow to be around five
inches long.
7.
Male giraffes do not use their horns as weapons against predators,
the only time they use them is to fight peers.
8.
Giraffes are social animals that travel in large herds consisting of
both males and females of all ages.
9. The gestation period is typically 15 months. During the
first week of life, the baby giraffe is carefully guarded. While the
mothers feed, the calves are kept in nursery groups.
10. Spotted hyenas and lions are the predators of the calves.
Between 50 to 75% fall prey, despite the mother's efforts to protect
and hide. Adults are too big to be prey and can kick the lion to death
if it comes too close.
11.
Giraffes typically live to be about 25 years old in the wild.
